Epilogue

Epilogue

ONE YEAR LATER

Pale sunlight filtered through the lace curtains of the bedroom window, casting intricate shadows on the wall. Lulu stretched languidly beneath the cozy quilt, savoring the warmth of Ben's arms around her. She blinked slowly, taking in the rustic charm of their new home—the exposed wooden beams, the antique furnishings she'd lovingly selected, the photographs of their friends and family adorning the walls.

Ben stirred beside her, his beard tickling her cheek as he nuzzled closer. "Merry Christmas, babygirl," he murmured, his voice still rough with sleep.

Lulu giggled, her heart fluttering at the endearment. "Merry Christmas, Daddy," she whispered back, snuggling deeper into his embrace.

For a moment they lay there in contented silence, listening to the soft sounds of the ranch coming to life outside their window. Lulu's mind drifted to the day ahead—the laughter and chatter of their guests, the twinkling lights and glittering ornaments, the aroma of gingerbread and Texan pines. Their first Christmas in their new home, the sanctuary they'd built together.

As they lay intertwined, basking in the glow of their love, Lulu felt a surge of desire bubble up within her. The way Ben's strong arms enveloped her, the rugged warmth of his body pressed against hers, stirred something primal in her soul. She shifted slightly, her gaze meeting Ben's crystal-blue eyes filled with adoration and an unmistakable hunger that mirrored her own.

"Daddy," she whispered, her voice soft and laden with need.

Ben's lips curled into a knowing smile as he sensed the change in the air between them. With a tender touch, he caressed her cheek, his fingers trailing down to her collarbone, igniting a trail of fire along her skin.

"Lulu," he murmured, his voice low and gravelly. "I can see the fire in your eyes, babygirl. Tell me what you want. Let me make this Christmas one to remember."

A shiver of anticipation coursed through Lulu as she leaned in closer, capturing his lips in a heated kiss that spoke volumes of her desire.

“I want . . . a special Christmas kiss, Daddy.”

He arched an eyebrow, clearly knowing exactly what she wanted.

Chuckling softly, Ben's eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned in to grant her request. His lips captured hers in a searing kiss that melted any lingering hint of sleepiness. Lulu's heart raced with excitement as his hands roamed over her body, sending delicious tingles along her skin.

Sensing her eagerness, Ben's touch grew bolder, trailing down the curve of her waist and slipping under the hem of her nightshirt. Lulu gasped softly as his fingers danced along her thigh, teasing and tempting her with feather-light strokes. His warm breath brushed against her ear as he whispered, "You're so beautiful, babygirl."

A thrill shot through Lulu at his words, igniting a fierce desire within her. Her fingers tangled in his tousled hair, craving more of his intoxicating touch. With a hunger born of love and passion, she guided him lower until his mouth found the sensitive folds of her sex.

Ben kissed her hungrily, thoughtfully. It was like poetry. They’d spent so many hours in this room together, getting to know one another’s bodies, learning just how the other one liked it. Ben was a Master of Lulu’s pleasure. He kissed and licked and fondled like a magician performing a great spell, and she came, and she came, and she came, until both of them were breathless, slick with sweat and smiles.

But it wasn’t over yet. Ben was hard, ready to explode like a Christmas cracker, and when he was sure that she was ready for him, he pinned her down to the mattress with a growl, taking her exactly as he wanted her, deep and rough and relentless, until they both came together with a loud moan of release.

As Lulu came down from her high, her body still humming with pleasure, she looked over at Ben and smiled. She loved him more than anything in the world, and Christmas was that much better now that he was in it. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but she could already feel the warmth of the day starting to seep into their bedchamber through the cracks in the walls.

The air was filled with the sweet scent of pine and cinnamon that always reminded her of Christmases past. She had always loved Christmas, but now that she was with Ben it meant something different. It was like every single year of her life had led up to this moment, this place, this man.

Ben pulled her closer, his hand still between her legs, and whispered in her ear, "Merry Christmas, babygirl."

Lulu smiled and snuggled closer to him. "Merry Christmas, Daddy."

Suddenly remembering, Lulu wriggled out of Ben's arms and bounded out of bed, her bare feet pattering across the hardwood floor. "I have a surprise for you, Daddy!" she called over her shoulder, rummaging through her craft supplies on the desk.

Ben propped himself up on one elbow, watching her with an amused smile. "Is that so, little one?"

Lulu nodded eagerly, her chestnut curls bouncing. She scampered back to the bed, a handmade card clutched to her chest. "Close your eyes and hold out your hands," she instructed, barely able to contain her excitement.

Chuckling, Ben obliged. Lulu placed the card in his waiting palms, then clambered back into bed beside him. "Okay, you can look now!"

Ben opened his eyes and gazed down at the card, a slow grin spreading across his face. On the front was a lovingly rendered cartoon of himself, dressed in the ridiculous two-headed Santa costume he'd worn last Christmas. He traced the image with his fingertip, marveling at the playful details Lulu had included.

"Do you like it?" Lulu asked shyly, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. "I know it's silly, but I wanted to capture that memory. How much fun we had, even in that goofy getup."

Ben gathered her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I love it," he said emphatically. "I love that you see the joy in even the silliest moments. That's just one of the many reasons I love you so much."

Lulu beamed up at him, her emerald eyes sparkling. "I love you too, Daddy. More than anything in the world."

Ben looked different these days—more relaxed and content. He'd grown a beard that Lulu loved to nuzzle against, and he'd taken to wearing a Stetson hat that made him look even more ruggedly handsome. But it was more than just his appearance that had changed.

Lulu had watched with pride as Ben learned to set healthy boundaries, ensuring he didn't stretch himself too thin in his mission to help others. It was a delicate balance, but one he was mastering with grace. "You know, you're the best boss I've ever had," Lulu told him sincerely, snuggling closer. "The way you care for everyone here, the way you pour your heart into this place . . . it's inspiring."

Ben smiled down at her, his blue eyes soft with affection. "I couldn't do it without you, sweetheart. You bring so much joy and creativity to the ranch. I'm so grateful to have you by my side."

Ben had given Lulu an impressive job title when she’d started work her. Creative Director/Daydreamer. It was the perfect role for her. She was allowed as much doodling and daydreaming as she liked. In fact, it was a vital part of her job, yielding by far the best results. She’d come up with so many fun ideas for the decor at the ranch and was putting together some spectacular visuals for the large program of events they were designing.

So far, there was only a handful of inhabitants, but it was clear that the place was going to grow and grow into something truly splendid.

They lay quietly for a moment, savoring the peaceful morning. Then Lulu piped up, "So, what do you want to do for the rest of the holidays, Daddy? Any big plans or adventures?"

Ben chuckled, shaking his head. "You know, I haven't thought that far ahead. I've been so focused on the here and now, just soaking up this time with you. What about you, babygirl? What's on your Christmas wish list?"

Lulu pursed her lips, considering. "Hmm, I don't know either," she admitted with a giggle. "I'm just so happy right where I am. With you, in this magical place we've created together. I don't need anything else."

"Well then," he said, a playful note in his deep voice, "I guess we'll just have to make up our adventures as we go along. Embrace the magic of the moment. Together."

Lulu grinned up at him, her expression radiant with joy and love. "That sounds perfect to me, Daddy. Absolutely perfect."

A sudden flurry of movement caught Lulu's eye. The curtains weren’t pulled completely shut, and she could see snowflakes swirling outside. She gasped, her face lighting up with childlike wonder. "Ben, look! It's snowing!"

Sure enough, fat, fluffy flakes were drifting lazily from the sky, painting the Texas landscape in a fresh coat of white. Lulu grabbed Ben's hand, tugging him out of bed. "Come on, let's go outside!"

Laughing at her enthusiasm, Ben allowed himself to be pulled along, stopping only to snag their robes and slippers from the rack. “Don’t even think about going out in the snow naked,” he warned her playfully. “You’re not immune from a good spanking, even on Christmas Day, young lady.”

“Uh-oh,” she said with a laugh. “I definitely wouldn’t want a hard spanking from my Daddy at any point today.” She winked at him.

“We’ll just have to see about that,” he said gruffly, a look of lust in his eyes as he helped Lulu put on her robe.

They bundled up quickly, eager to experience the unexpected snowfall.

As they stepped out onto the porch, Lulu tilted her face upward, feeling the delicate kisses of the snowflakes on her skin. She stuck out her tongue, trying to catch one, and Ben chuckled at her antics.

"Isn't it beautiful, Daddy? It's like the world is wrapped in a big, fluffy blanket."

Ben nodded, brushing a snowflake from the tip of her nose. "It sure is. But not nearly as beautiful as you."

She giggled, snuggling into his embrace. They stood like that for a long while, watching the snow fall around them, content in the simple perfection of the moment.

The End

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